LEO DULACKI
Class of 1936
Inducted in 2013 |
Leo was inducted into the SHSAA Hall of Fame in 2013.
USMC Lt. General Dulacki retired in 1974 after 32 years of active service. He is a war hero and an outstanding leader of the troops as attested by his many promotions, assignments, medals and awards. His schooling included a BS from Creighton University in Omaha, MS from George Washington University, Russian language course completion in California, Senior Course at Marine Corps Schools in Quantico, VA, Strategic Intelligence School in Washington, DC, graduation with distinction from the Naval War College, and he was an Instructor at the Marine Corps Schools. His assignments included top leadership command posts in recruiting, personnel, manpower and many other key areas including commanding battalions and divisions. He served as Naval Attaché at the American Embassies in Helsinki, Finland and in Moscow, USSR. He served in leadership positions in Korea, Vietnam, and many locations throughout the USA. Upon returning to the USA in 1961, he served with the Joint Chiefs of Staff and then with the Defense Intelligence Agency. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the USMC through Creighton’s Army ROTC program upon graduation, and immediately attended basic training in Philadelphia for active duty in the USMC. During WWII he was assigned aboard the USS Hornet during the “Doolittle” bombing raid on Tokyo, Japan during the Battle of Midway. When his ship was sunk during the Battle of Santa Cruz, he was rescued by another ship and returned to the USA. In 1943 he became Commanding Officer of the Marine detachment aboard the USS Belleau Wood until the ship was severely damaged in 1945 and he returned to the USA. He was promoted to Lt. Colonel in 1951. Dulacki served as Commanding Officer of the 1st battalion, 7th Marine Regiment and subsequently as a staff officer at the Korean truce negotiations until hostilities ended in 1953. He was promoted to Brigadier General in 1967 and commanded the 5th Marine Division. He served as Chief of Staff of the III Marine Amphibious Force in Vietnam. He was promoted to Major General in 1970 and commanded the 4th Marine Division. In 1973, Dulacki returned to the US Marine Corps Headquarters where he was promoted to Lieutenant General and designated Deputy Commandant of the Marine Corps for Manpower. His awards include Distinguished Service Medal (2 times); Legion of Merit (4 times); Bronze Star (2 times); Joint Service Commendation Medal; Navy Commendation Medal; Purple Heart; Order of the Lion of Finland; Chung-Mu Medal, Korean President Unit Citation, Republic of Korea; National Order of Vietnam, Cross of Gallantry, President Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation, Republic of Vietnam; Navy Unit Commendation; and the Alumni Merit Award from Creighton University in 1974. He has never forgotten his Polish roots and served on the Board of Trustees of the Kosciuszko Foundation and is an honorary trustee of the San Diego Paderewski Society. He also fondly remembers his Packer days and has donated funds for scholarships for SHS students. He said his time at SHS was his source of inspiration. Leo passed away January 2019. The following is his obituary: Lieutenant General Leo J. Dulacki - USMC (Ret) Sun City West - Lieutenant General Leo J. Dulacki - USMC (Ret). died on January 4, 2019 in Sun City West, Arizona. Dulacki was born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1918, the son of Polish immigrant parents. Upon graduation from Creighton University in 1941 he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps in which he served until retirement in 1974. During World War Il , he served in the Pacific Theater: aboard the aircraft carrier USS Hornet (during the Doolittle raid on Tokyo in 1942, the Battle of Midway, and other operations) until the ship was sunk off Guadalcanal in 1942; and aboard the aircraft carrier USS Belleau Wood during numerous Pacific engagements until the ship was severely damaged off the Philippines in 1944. After World War I l, he served in various capacities in posts and stations throughout the United States and abroad. After completing the Russian Language School, he served as Assistant Naval Attaché, American Embassy, Helsinki, Finland, from 1950 to 1952 During the Korean War, he commanded a battalion in the 1st Marine Division and then participated in the UN Truce negotiations at Panmunjom which brought an end to the hostilities. From 1958 to 1961, he served as Assistant Naval Attaché and then as Naval Attaché at the American Embassy, Moscow. He served two tours of duty in Vietnam: in 1965-66 as the Intelligence Officer of the Ill Amphibious Force and the Chief of Staff of the 3rd Marine Division; and in 1969-70 as the Operations Officer of the Ill Amphibious Force and then its Chief of Staff. At Camp Pendleton, he commanded the 5th Marine Division in 1968-69 and the 4th Marine Division in 1970-73. Upon retirement in 1974, he was serving as Director of Manpower, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Washington, D.C. Among his decorations are two Distinguished Service Medals; five Legions of Merit; two Bronze Star medals; the Purple Heart; the Joint Service Commendation Medal; the Navy Commendation Medal; the Order of the Lion of Finland; the Republic of Korea Chung-mu Medal; the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry and the National Order of Merit. Funeral Mass and internment with military honors will be at the Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, with full military honors. |